Minnesota Names New State CIO

Tom Baden, a veteran of Minnesota government IT, was named the state’s CIO by Gov. Mark Dayton on Wednesday, Jan. 14.

Baden, CIO of Minnesota’s Department of Human Services, replaces Carolyn Parnell, who announced her resignation last month. Baden has spent more than 30 years in Minnesota state government IT, including stints as the state’s chief enterprise architect and enterprise architect for the Department of Employment and Economic Development.

“Under Governor Dayton’s leadership, and the work of many dedicated MN.IT [Minnesota IT] Services employees, we have made great progress in the last four years to streamline and improve our IT systems,” Baden said in a prepared statement. “I look forward to building on those efforts in the years to come.”

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Baden inherits a state IT organization that has undergone sweeping changes since 2011, when Minnesota state lawmakers approved a plan to consolidate technology systems and employees into the central MN.IT Services. Parnell, who spent four years as Minnesota’s top technology official, led the transition, which is credited with saving the state $28 million.

Dayton said Baden's experience makes him well equipped to lead the state's technology efforts. “Under Commissioner Baden’s leadership, I am confident MN.IT Services will continue to improve Minnesotans’ access to information, and to the valuable services provided to state government.”